Module Details

Module Code: ECON H2311
Module Title: Sports Economics
Title: Sports Economics
Module Level:: 6
Credits:: 10
Module Coordinator: Myles Kelly
Module Author:: Fiona Burke
Domains:  
Module Description: The aim of this module is to provide students with a knowledge and understanding of the fundamental economic principles and theories relevant to the operation of professional and amateur sports.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Discuss and analyse the implications of theoretical and empirical work in the economics of sport for policy issues relevant to the sporting environment.
LO2 Demonstrate an understanding of the operation of the markets for participant sport in the public and private sectors, and discuss issues relevant to the economics of hosting mega sporting events.
LO3 Explain and analyse the operation of the market for professional sports using specialised knowledge of relevant economic theories.
LO4 Discuss and evaluate issues of uncertainty of outcome and measures of competitive balance in sports leagues.
LO5 Explain the rationale for and methods of cross subsidisation, and use economic models to understand cross subsidisation in different forms of sporting leagues.
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is recommended before enrolment in this module.
No recommendations listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Additional Requisite Information
No Co Requisites listed
 
Indicative Content
Introduction to the Economics of Sport
• What is sports economics? • Introduction to Economic Methodology • Economic Organisation of Sport
The Economics of Sports Participation
• A General Economic Model of Sports Consumption: Dual Decision Hypothesis; Income-Leisure Trade-off; Derived demand for sports • Econometric findings on sports participation and sports related expenditure across economies
The Supply of Participant Sport (Public and Private Sectors)
• Structure of supply • The Public Sector: Irish and U.K. Policy and provision • The Economic Rationale for Public Policy Intervention and Provision of Sport in an Economy • The Public Financing of Sport • Market structures and private sector sport provision; • The Economics of Hosting of Mega Sporting Events; • Sport and the Economic significance of informal participation
The Economics of Amateurism in Sports
• Sports in the Not-For-Profits Sector • The Economic Foundation of Sports Club Systems (Club goods, provision of club goods, Hierarchical form, Economic Evaluation) • An Economic Analysis of Amateurism/Volunteering and College Sports
The Market for Professional Sports
• The Transition to Professionalism • Sports Competitions as Economic Contests (Contest/Tournament theory) • Foundations of the Analysis of Professional Team Sports (Demand, Supply, Market Equilibrium & Disequilibrium)
Competitive Balance and Cross Subsidisation
• Uncertainty of Outcome • Measuring Competitive Balance • Economic rationale and Methods of Cross Subsidisation in Leagues
The Labour Market in Professional Team Sports
• Perfect competition as a benchmark labour market • Historical evolution of the labour market in sport (US, the UK, Europe, Player agents, contract duration) • Theorizing the Players’ Labour Market using Economic Models • Econometric findings from the US and Europe
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Continuous Assessment100.00%

Assessments

Full Time

Continuous Assessment
Assessment Type Essay % of Total Mark 50
Timing Week 24 Learning Outcomes 4,5
Non-marked No
Assessment Description
Academic Essay
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 50
Timing n/a Learning Outcomes 1,2,3
Non-marked No
Assessment Description
Group project
No Project
No Practical
No End of Module Formal Examination
Reassessment Requirement
Exam Board
It is at the discretion of the Examination Board as to what the qualifying criteria are.

SETU Carlow Campus reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Workload Category Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact No Description 12 Weeks per Stage 6.00 72
Estimated Learner Hours Non Contact No Description 15 Weeks per Stage 11.87 178
Total Weekly Contact Hours 6.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Workload Category Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact No Description Every Week 3.00 3
Independent Learning Non Contact No Description Every Week 15.00 15
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Leeds, M., von Allmen, P. and Matheson, V.. (2018), The Economics of Sports, 6th Edition. Routledge, London.
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Butler, R.. (2021), Advances in Sports Economics, Agenda Publishing, Newcastle.
  • Downward, P., Frick, B. Humphreys, B., Pawlowski, T., Ruseski, J and Soebling, B.. (2019), Sage Handbook of Sports Economics, Sage Publications, London.
  • Berri, D.. (2017), Principles of Sports Economics, Macmillan Higher Education, London, p.432, [ISBN: 9781319106157].
  • Kahane, L and Shmanske, S.. (2012), The Oxford Handbook of Sports Economics Volume 1: The Economics of Sports, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  • Kahane, L. and Shmanske, S.. (2012), The Oxford Handbook of Sports Economics Volume 2: Economics through Sports, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  • Fort, R.. (2010), Sports Economics (Third Edition), Prentice Hall.
  • Moynihan, M.. (2013), GAA Conomics: The Secret Life of Money in the GAA, Gill and Macmillan, Dublin.
  • Downward, P. , Dawson, A. and Dejonghe, J.. (2009), Sports Economics Theory, Evidence and Policy, Elsevier.
  • Heurta, I. (2014), Beautiful Game Theory: How Soccer Can Help Economics?, Princeton University Press, Oxfordshire.
  • Szymanski, S.. (2009), Playbooks and Checkbooks: An Introduction to the Economics of Modern Sports, Princeton University Press, Oxfordshire.
Recommended Article/Paper Resources
  • Journal of Sports Economics.
  • Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports.
Other Resources
Discussion Note: